Monday, March 2, 2015

And The Madness is Upon Us...


So theoretically I started my March Madness project yesterday. I have PICKED what I am doing. And the thing that really helped me pick was this:

HBO Seeks Diverse Writers

(Hint: it's a contest)

You may or may not know this, but I'm a girl. And if you read last week you saw one of my project options was converting A Shot in the Light to a screenplay... and then VOILA! A contest to find script writers!!!

So that is what I'm going with. They want 30-60 minutes worth...


I have always envisioned Shot as a bit “mini-series” like, but it's funny—rather than about 10 pages per character scene, I am giving it about half a page then cycling... flashes of what is going on. That insight came from re-watching the first episode of Survivors—a BBC mini-series about... what do you know, a flu epidemic. But I think I can get all the important stuff across for the first “book” in my hour—that would make the whole thing 12 episodes, on the off chance they wanted it... I THINK they are actually identifying people to work on OTHER stuff, but that would be cool, too. They make better money than I do at my day job, and it would be made writing...

The FORMATTING for screenplays is totally wonky... I hope the reference I pulled is actually accurate and I'm doing this right, though I suspect it's a bit outdated. Still, it is getting me going. It can't have changed a TON... there are things too convenient about it (a page a minute estimation, for instance)


And because I only need this to end up about 60 pages, and because most of THIS is work at my computer, scanning the old, converting or rephrasing so the story comes out as a visual (removing thoughts, but getting across the critical stuff through action or a bit of added dialog), but I will keep going with my Kahlotus revision via hard copy... I think I can do both things this month if I really focus.

So that is my madness...

What is yours?

(don't forget—if you want to join us formally with a March Madness writing project (on Facebook), you can do so here: BuNoWriMo)

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Good luck with the contest! A twelve episode mini-series. Wouldn't that be awesome?

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You're writing a screenplay for your serial? How exciting. You will learn so much from the experience. Good luck.

Chrys Fey said...

Best of luck with the contest!!!! My March Madness is all the editing and rewriting I'm doing.

dolorah said...

That is an epic adventure, learning a new writing style. I hope it all works out for you Hart. Good luck.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Sounds like a great idea and not mad at all! I've often thought of trying to draft my novels as screenplays to start with just to get the dialogue going fresh instead of all the bla bla bla telling I fill my first drafts with.

Helena said...

I think Shot in the Dark is a natural for a series, and this is a fantastic opportunity. Go for it! And yes, the formatting for screenplays is so radically different from the simple novel format, but the main thing is to convert the story to the screen medium and then work out the wonky format details. I had no idea this contest existed, so maybe I'll try submitting something. Sigh. As if I have the time!

BTW, you know I'm writing a screenplay, and if you want some links I've found helpful, like for screenplays online or stuff about the three act structure, just let me know and I'll send them on.

Sarah Ahiers said...

This is so exciting that you're doing this!! Keep us updated so i can live vicariously through you

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Like Helena says: this is a fantastic opportunity. Who needs ABNA, rigtht? And Diane has a good point: you will learn so much from this experience. When I had my store, I wrote screenplays for my customers of Xena during the holiday re-run time: Xena and Gabrielle being kidnapped by grey aliens -- Xena and Gabs in a Christmas story protecting Jospeh, Mary, and her baby from the Romans. I had fun! You will, too.

Arlee Bird said...

Let me know when your show comes on TV. I need something good to watch.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Michael Di Gesu said...

Sounds exciting, Hart! ALL THE BEST!!!